New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Misato FG2’

ABSTRACT

A New Guinea  Impatiens  cultivar particularly distinguished by its high blooming temperature and large bright orange flowers is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Misato FG2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea impatiens, botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Misato FG2’. ‘Misato FG2’originated from an interspecific hybridization between ‘2K-MC-1’, anunpatented orange-flowered Impatiens hawkeri plant, and ‘8B-4C-1’, anunpatented proprietary red-flowered Impatiens platypetala plant, inMisato, Japan. In 2002, the two Impatiens species were crossed and apopulation of F₁ plants was created.

The F₁ plants were evaluated in Misato, Japan in 2004 in an open fieldtrial. Criteria for selection included mounding growth habit, toleranceto heat and cold, vigorous rooting, orange flower color and overallplant vigor. At the end of the trial, a single-plant selection was madebased on the above criteria and vegetatively propagated. The plant wastrialed in Athens, Ga. and Salinas, Calif. The selection subsequentlywas named ‘Misato FG2’ and found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plants Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Canada onApr. 19, 2005. No sales or offers for sale of this cultivar were madebefore Apr. 19, 2005.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Orange flower color    -   2. Tolerance to heat and cold    -   3. Vigorous rooting    -   4. Mounding growth habit    -   5. Overall plant vigor

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage ofthe plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1. The photograph shows overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage.

FIG. 2. The photograph shows the mature inflorescence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Misato FG2’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas, Calif. The plant history was taken on plants grown for aboutfour months from propagation by terminal cuttings under greenhouseconditions. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart ofThe Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition(2001). Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossy ofBotanical Terms by M. Hickey and C. Kink, Cambridge University Press.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.        -   Botanical.—Impatiens interspecific cross            (Impatiens×hybrida).        -   Common name.—Impatiens.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘2K-MC-1’, an unpatented I. hawkeri plant.        -   Male parent.—‘8B-4C-1’, an unpatented proprietary I.            platypetala plant.-   Growth:    -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—The terminal 1.0 to 1.5            inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The base of            the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a 1:9            solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution: 9 water) root-inducing            solution immediately prior to sticking into the cell trays.            Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays having 98 cells            and containing a moistened peat moss-based growing medium.            The cuttings were misted with water from overhead for 10            seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient roots were formed.            The vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six            weeks.        -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—Rooted cuttings            were transplanted and grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots            in a glass greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots            contained a peat moss-based growing medium. Soluble            fertilizer container 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20%            potassium was applied once a day or every other day by            overhead irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow            release fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus            and 18% potassium. The typical average air temperature was            24° C.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6-8 weeks.-   Plant description:    -   -   Habit.—Upright and branching.        -   Height.—23.0-28.0 cm as measured from soil line to top of            foliage.        -   Spread.—35.0-48.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—6-8 weeks.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Will flower as long as the            temperature is above 5° C.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Plants have been observed to            continuously flower at a temperature range of 5° C.-36° C.        -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—About 4 weeks.-   Branches:    -   -   Number.—10 per plant.        -   Length.—18.0-20.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4-0.5 cm.-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—3.0-6.0 cm measured from soil line to first node.        -   Diameter.—0.6-0.9 cm.        -   Internode length.—7.5-8.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 145B (yellow-green) with anthocyanin specks.        -   Stem description.—Strong; circular cross-section.        -   Pubescence.—Slight; upright.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (white).        -   Anthocyanin.—RHS N77A (purple).        -   Pedicel texture.—Dull, slightly pubescent.        -   Peduncles.—Length: 5.1-5.8 cm. Color: RHS 145B            (yellow-green). Texture: Dull, slightly pubescent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite if two leaves are at one node and            whorled if more than two leaves are at one node.        -   Length.—10.2-12.0 cm.        -   Width.—4.1-5.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Shortly attenuate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Nearest to RHS 136A (green). Lower            surface: RHS 138B (green).        -   Texture.—Dull and sticky.        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Pubescence.—Slight.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (white).        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 142C (green). Lower            surface: RHS 142C (green).        -   Petioles.—Length: 0.6-0.8 cm. Color: RHS 142C (green).            Texture: Dull, slightly pubescent.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Deltoid (longitudinal cross-section).        -   Length.—1.0-1.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.7-1.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 144A (yellow-green).        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Will flower as long as the temperature is            above 5° C.        -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower with spur.        -   Number of flowers per node.—4-5 in bloom at any one time.        -   Number of flowers per plant.—10-25 per plant, depending on            amount of pinching during growth.        -   Flower form.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—12-16 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Immature flower color.—Same as mature flower (does not            darken or fade over time).        -   Mature flower.—Color: Upper surface: RHS N30C (orange-red).            Lower surface: RHS 41D (red). Eye zone: RHS 60A            (red-purple). Diameter: 6.0 cm. Depth: 0.5-0.6 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Shape.—Obcordate.        -   Length.—2.7-3.4 cm.        -   Width.—2.4-3.2 cm.        -   Apex.—Emarginate (cleaved).        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Petal texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS N30C (orange-red). Lower surface:            RHS 41D (red). Eye zone: RHS 60A (red-purple).-   Spur:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular and curved downward.        -   Color.—RHS 63A (red-purple) at base fading to RHS 62D            (red-purple) at tip.        -   Length.—5.0-5.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2-0.3 cm.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Caudate.        -   Base.—Subcordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Dull, slightly pubescent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Form: Fused; split into 4 lobes. Number: Many.            Filament color: RHS 71B (red-purple). Anther color: RHS 71B            (red-purple). Pollen amount: Heavy. Pollen color: RHS N155A            (white). Pollen description: Powdery.        -   Pistil.—Number: 5. Stigma color: RHS 144A (yellow-green).            Style color: RHS 144A (yellow-green).        -   Ovary arrangement.—Parietal.        -   Fruit/seed set.—Little to none observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN CULTIVARS

‘Misato FG2’ differs from the female parent, ‘2K-MC-1’, an unpatented I.hawkeri plant, in that ‘Misato FG2’ has bright orange flowers while‘2K-MC-1’ has orange flowers.

‘Misato FG2’ differs from the male parent, ‘8B-4C-1’, an unpatentedproprietary I. platypetala plant, in that ‘Misato FG2’ has bright orangeflowers while ‘8G-4C-1’ has red flowers.

‘Misato FG2’ is similar to the commercial Impatiens variety ‘Balfaforg’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,690) however, there are differences as listed inthe table below:

TABLE 1 Comparison of Characteristics between ‘Misato FG2’ and‘Balfaforg’ Characteristic ‘Misato FG2’ ‘Balfaforg’ Growth habit UprightTrailing Flowering temperature Can flower above 30° C. Cannot flowerabove 30° C. Flower diameter About 6.0 cm About 5 cm Mature leaf color,Nearest to RHS 136A Darker than RHS Upper surface 139A Spur color RHS63A at base fading RHS 145B to RHS 62D at tip

1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant as shownand described herein.